EPA’s Industrial Materials Recycling Program

EPA’s Industrial Materials
Recycling Program
An Overview and Tools to
support recycling and reuse
Nicole Villamizar
U.S. EPA Office of Resource Conservation &
Recovery
TRB ADC 60 Environmental Conference
July 13, 2009
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Overview
• What are Industrial Materials?
• Why use industrial materials in roadways?
• What is the U.S. EPA’s Industrial Materials
Recycling (IMR) Program?
• What are some challenges to increased use
of industrial materials?
• What are some key resources to support
reuse?
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What are Industrial Materials?
• Byproducts of industrial processes
Coal combustion, metal casting, pulp and paper
production, construction & demolition, etc.
Over 500 million tons generated annually
• Materials Include:
CCPs; C&D materials, spent foundry sand
Used tires, slag, silica fume
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Why use Industrial Materials?
• Environmental Benefits
Avoided impacts from processing of virgin
materials (e.g. GHG emissions)
• Economic Benefits
Reduced costs associated with disposal
Cost savings from use instead of more costly
materials
• Performance Benefits
Perform as well as or better than traditional
materials
• Increased strength, improved workability,
resistance to chemical attack; longer life
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What is the U.S. EPA’s IMR Program?
• Part of the EPA’s
Resource Conservation
Challenge (RCC), a
national effort to conserve
materials, save energy and
reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by managing
materials more efficiently
IMR is one of four priority areas of the RCC
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What is the U.S. EPA’s IMR Program?
• Focusing on increasing the
recycling of select materials:
CCPs; C&D (asphalt, concrete),
spent foundry sand; used tires, slag,
silica fume, pulp and paper
byproducts
• Applications:
Roadways, Transportation,
Buildings, Agricultural
www.epa.gov/industrialmaterials
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What is the U.S. EPA's IMR Program?
• IMR program staff in each of 10 Regions
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What is the U.S. EPA’s IMR Program?
IMR Focus areas
1. Measurement and benefits
2. Regulatory and safety issues
3. Supporting developing markets
4. Communications and benefits
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What is the U.S. EPA’s IMR Program?
Key IMR Program Activities
• The Construction Initiative
Focuses on building/transportation projects
Offers opportunities for public recognition through
case studies and media events
EPA staff and partners provide technical assistance
• The Coal Combustion Products Partnership
Collaborative program to promote sage and effective
use of CCPs
www/epa.gov/C2P2
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What is the U.S. EPA’s IMR Program?
Key IMR Program Activities
• Mid-Atlantic Green Highways Partnership
Voluntary partnership among FHWA, EPA, state
DEQs/DOTs, industry and others
www.greenhighways.org
• NEW! “Green Transportation and Construction
Initiative” in New York, New Jersey
Charles Harewood, U.S. EPA Region 2, will present
Wednesday AM at TRB
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A few of EPA’s Industrial Materials
Recycling Partners
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Office of Pavement Technology
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Agricultural Research Service
• National Association of County
Engineers (NACE)
• American Public Works
Association (APWA)
• Associated General Contractors of America
(AGC)
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What are some challenges to use of
industrial materials?
• Approved materials and uses vary by
state
State solid waste regulatory agencies
approve use and application for
materials
• Lack of approved transportation
specifications for use of materials
Some DOTs unfamiliar with materials;
materials not specified (or even
prohibited) in specs or contracts
• Environmental risk concerns
Perceived vs actual risks
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What are some key resources to
address those challenges?
• EPA/FHWA publications
• Industry associations
• Academic research centers
• Existing specifications for
industrial materials
• State Program Highlights
• EPA and FHWA staff
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Resources: Publications
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Publication highlights
benefits, provides
resources and
references, such as
ASTM specifications
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Resources: Industry Associations
• The Industrial Resources Council (IRC)
American Coal Ash Association
Construction Materials Recycling Association
Foundry Industry Recycling Starts Today
National Council for Air and Stream
Improvement
National Slag Association
Rubber Manufacturers Association
Please visit: www.industrialresourcescouncil.org
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Resources: The Recycled Materials
• RMRC Goals:
Resource Center
Test, evaluate, develop appropriate guidelines (See:
www.rmrc.unh.edu/tools/uguidelines/index.asp)
Make information available to State transportation
departments and other interested parties
Analyze potential long-term considerations that affect
the physical and environmental performance
Work cooperatively with Federal and State officials to
reduce the institutional barriers that limit widespread
use
Please visit: www.rmrc.unh.edu/
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Resources: Existing Specifications
• Specs developed by the RMRC:
Glass Cullet use for Soil Aggregate Base Course
Reclaimed Concrete in Portland Cement
Reclaimed Concrete in Granular Base
Reclaimed Asphalt Shingles in Asphalt Concrete
• AASHTO Specs:
M295 – fly ash
M302 - Ground granulated blast furnace slag
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Resources: State Program Highlights
• Pennsylvania DOT
Pollution Prevention Section, Strategic Recycling
program
www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdDesign.
nsf/infoSpecifications?OpenForm
• Texas DOT
Specifications Using Recycled Materials by
Application
www.dot.state.tx.us/business/contractors_consult
ants/recycling/speclist.htm
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Resources: People
• EPA’s IMR Program Staff
Staff in each EPA Region can assist you
Send me an email and I’ll put you in touch
with an EPA person in your area
(villamizar.nicole@epa.gov)
• Federal Highway Administration
FALCON Team
Focused on increasing use of recycled
materials
Contact: Jason Harrington
(jason.harrington@dot.gov)
• We want to highlight your great work!
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Summary
• U.S. EPA is committed to increasing the
recycling and beneficial use of industrial
materials in an environmentally sound manner
• Using recycled industrial materials in roadways
makes good sense:
Environmental benefits – supports GHG emission
reductions – and key to reaching today’s state and
local climate change policies
Economic benefits – lower cost materials
Performance – makes structures stronger, more
durable
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Summary
• While some challenges exist, there are
organizations, people, and tools and
resources to address those challenges
EPA/FHWA programs and publications
Industry and academic associations (RMRC)
Existing specifications and model programs
EPA and FHWA staff members!
• EPA would like to highlight the great work
you’re already doing through:
Case studies, highlights on our website, press
releases, etc.
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Thank you!
Nicole Villamizar
U.S. EPA Office Resource
Conservation & Recovery
(703) 347-8952
Villamizar.Nicole@epa.gov
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Review of Key Websites
• U.S. EPA’s IMR Program:
www.epa.gov/industrialmaterials
• Recycled Materials Resource Center:
www.rmrc.unh.edu/
• Industrial Resources Council:
www.industrialresourcescouncil.org
• FHWA Office of Pavement Technology:
www.fhwa.dot.gov/PAVEMENT/recycling/index.c
fm
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